Category Archives: Leaders

Chennai college honours under-35 female achievers

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Education, Leaders, Records, All

The second edition of Yuva Sammaan Awards was held on Saturday evening with pomp and show at the MOP Vaishnav College for Women.

The awardees were given a citation and `1 lakh each  D Sampathkumar
The awardees were given a citation and `1 lakh each  D Sampathkumar

Chennai :

The second edition of Yuva Sammaan Awards was held on Saturday evening with pomp and show at the MOP Vaishnav College for Women. The Awards were initiated last year by the college to recognise and appreciate female achievers under the age of 35 in the fields of performing arts, sports and entrepreneurship. The awardees were given a citation and Rs 1 lakh each.

College principal, Lalitha Balakrishnan delivered the welcome address. Kumaravel, founder of Naturals Salons; Rohini Rao, a competitive sailor, and Priyadarsini Govind, a classical dancer, were the chief guests. “I have not only empowered women, but I have been benefitted because of it. I believe that the ability to think differently is the essence of good entrepreneurship. I want all of you to look at every problem as an opportunity to provide a solution,” said Kumaravel.

The jury comprised Ranjini Manian, CEO of Global Adjustments; S Venkatraman, senior consultant in the education sector of UNESCO; S Vaishya Subramaniam, writer; and Thangam Meghanathan, chairperson of the Rajalakshmi Education Trust. Thirty-five nominations were received by the college. Sruti Harihara Subramaniam, director of ‘Harmony with AR Rahman’, founder of Goli Soda and MOP alumna, won the award in the Entrepreneurship category. The other nominees in this category were Varthika Neethi Mohan of Farm@Home; Barkha V Mehta, specialising in advertising and marketing; Mathanghi Kumar, chef and partner at the Summerhouse Eatery; Savitha Chandrasekaran, specialising in robotics and product development; and Prasitha Sridhar, founder of Shopzters.

In the sports category, squash player Deepika Pallikal Karthik bagged the award. She is the first Indian to break into the top 10 in the PSA Women’s ranking. The other nominees in this category were Anitha P, basketball player and gold medalist; K Shamini, table tennis player; Sai Samhitha, tennis player; and MD Thirushkamini, cricketer.

Charumathi Raghuraman, carnatic music violinist, won the award in the performing arts category. In her acceptance speech, she thanked her family ‘for being a support system’. Carnatic vocalist and playback singer Saindhavi Prakash, Bharatanatyam dancer Vaidhevi Harish, and playback singer S Mahasri were the other nominees. Three MOP alumni — Janani Hamsini, carnatic singer; Kavyalakshmi Muralidaran, dancer, and Sudha RS Iyer, violinist/vocalist, — were also nominated.
Super Singer Junior 3 finalist Anu AP performed two songs, The band ‘One Note Stand’ rendered a mash-up of AR Rahman songs.

Performances by students
As part of the event, MOP students performed garba, a contemporary dance performance to the remix of the Pirates of the Caribbean soundtrack, and a thillana.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Chennai / by Express News Service / February 25th, 2019

Harish Natarajan: A ‘human debater’ who beat a robot

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Leaders, Nri's / Pio's, Records, All, World Opinion
Harish Natarajan | Photo Credit: K. Pichumani
Harish Natarajan | Photo Credit: K. Pichumani

Meet Harish Natarajan, a champion debater who recently triumphed over IBM’s AI debater

Harish Natarajan loves arguing. It has helped him win debates against his parents at dinner table conversations when he was young. It has helped him scale heights in debating circles — he holds the world record for most debate victories. And recently, it helped the 31-year-old triumph over IBM’s artificial intelligence debating system, affectionately dubbed ‘Miss Debater’.

His victory has been celebrated across the globe, thanks to the recent emphasis on man-vs-machine clashes. At his nondescript house in Chennai’s bustling T Nagar, where he is for a day for his grandfather’s birthday celebrations, a jet-lagged Harish is nonplussed about all the worldwide attention. “Before the clash, part of me thought that a machine couldn’t be as good as humans in debating. But then, I knew that a machine had beaten chess champion Garry Kasparov in the past. So, winning against the AI was somewhat of a relief. Maybe in a couple of years, if IBM continues developing the debating side of AI, I’d be happy to have a go at it again… and then, that would be real achievement,” he says.

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Who’s Harish Natarajan?
  • A 31-year-old, settled in the UK, and among the world’s best debaters
  • He recently defeated IBM’s AI-powered debating system in a live face-off
  • Is currently involved in coaching people from less developed debating circuits

_____________

The topic given to the two was about pre-school subsidies, and Harish went about treating the clash like he would with any human. “The first 30 seconds, of course, were strange — I realised I was up against this giant ballot box. But after that, as the AI was making arguments, I kept noting what my responses ought to be. At times, it was putting forth points that I couldn’t really deny. But I was always thinking: How do I use its words against it?”

One of the reasons Harish was able to outsmart the machine in the 25-minute rapid-fire exchange was the emphasis he gave to ‘emotion’ during his arguments. “Emotion elevates the importance of what you’re saying. There were moments when even the machine was trying to evoke emotion. But I did have an edge because, when I talk about experiences, it comes across as more genuine partly because… well, I’m not a machine.”

Point of the matter

His parents are both from Chennai, but Harish was born and brought up in the UK, and has been debating since he was 16. “I was relatively good at school, but I discovered I wasn’t up there once I went to the bigger debating world.” His time at Cambridge helped him put a lot more effort into this side of things. “I realised that I enjoyed debating and had the aptitude for it. Eventually, with practice, I got better.”

Today, he has participated in more than 2,000 debates and is among the world’s best, but Harish has never been too happy with his performances. “That’s why I never re-watch any of my debates, because I am always thinking what more I could have done,” he says.

There have been times when Harish has been caught off guard. At one debate, the topic in front of him was: commercialisation of feminism. “I remember thinking that I had no idea what it was. But I got back home, and read a lot about it. So, a few months later, when a similar topic came up in another debate, I knew a huge deal about it and my teammates gave me looks like: ‘why do you know all this?’” he laughs.

He’s always reading something or the other. “There are things that I don’t care about much, but I know a great deal about. I’ve read so much about academic feminism and elements of climate science in my life. Personally, I like reading about economics and international relations, but as a debater, I have to absolutely keep reading everything under the sky.”

All this reading has helped Harish incorporate debating into his everyday life. “If I read an article in a newspaper, I always think: what is the underlying argument here? With respect to anything I read, I’m always debating within myself. It has now become a way of thinking.”

Out in the world

When he’s not out there debating or attending to his day job — he works as Head of Economic Risk Consulting at AKE International — Harish loves watching football or catching up on a show on Netflix. He loves travelling as well.

“There’s a big difference between having knowledge about a place and actually experiencing something there,” he says, “My last big trip was to Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan. What shocked me about the city was that it looks different from anywhere else in world. It looks empty, but there are giant buildings everywhere.”

Currently, Harish is involved in coaching people from less developed debating circuits. “In April, I’ll be in China. A few years ago, I was part of World University Debating Championships right here in Chennai. India has a vibrant school circuit, a good educational system and the parental pressure on children to succeed is huge… and so logically, should be among the best debating countries in the world. Debating at the school level has developed a lot of late and I predict Indian students to be among the best in the next few years,” he wraps up.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Chennai / by Srinivasa Ramanujam / February 20th, 2019

Govt to build memorials, celebrate birth anniversaries of revolutionaries

About Chennai(Madras) / TamilNadu, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, All

Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Thursday announced establishment of memorials for many late leaders and that their birth anniversaries would be celebrated as State government functions.

Chennai :

Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Thursday announced establishment of memorials for many late leaders and that their birth anniversaries would be celebrated as State government functions.
Making a suo motu statement in the Assembly, the Chief Minister said a memorial and a library for poet Kavimani Desika Vinayagam Pillai would be built at Theroor in Kanyakumari at a total cost of `1 crore.

A memorial for King Perumbidugu Mutharaiyar would be established in Tiruchy district at a cost of `1 crore. Similarly, a memorial for late Dalit leader Rettaimalai Srinivasan would be established at Kozhiyalam near Madurantakam.

The Chief Minister also  said that the government would build memorials for VK Palaniswami Gounder, who was instrumental in implementing the Parambikkulam-Azhiyar dam project; Justice Party leader and former finance minister of the erstwhile Madras Presidency AT Panneerselvam; Ondiveeran, the commander-in-chief of King Pulithevan who fought against the British forces  in Tirunelveli; and a dome for Allala Ilaiya Nayakar at Jedarpalayam.

Palaniswami also announced that the birth anniversaries of Colonel John Pennycuick, Kongu chieftain Kalingarayan, freedom fighter Veeran Azhagumuthukon, Tamil scholar Ma Po Sivagnanam and former Assembly Speaker SP Aditanar would be celebrated by the governmen.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Chennai / by Express News Service / February 15th, 2019

Surendra Mehta: a philanthropist above all else

Business & Economy, Leaders
Surendra Mehta
Surendra Mehta

Tributes poured in for renowned philanthropist and jeweller Surendra Manilal Mehta, who passed away at his residence last week. He was 96. Born on 14 June, 1923, in Palanpur, Gujarat, he spent most of his life in Chennai.

The son of Manilalbhai, who had served as Prime Minister in the princely state of Palanpur, Surendrabhai was the eldest of five siblings. Following the death of two of his uncles, he left Ferguson College, Pune, and came down to Madras in 1939 to assist and, later, manage the family firm, Bapalal & Co.

Along with his brother Harindra and cousin Suresh, Surendrabhai and his family created a bouquet of businesses which included the Barton’s brand in Bengaluru, coffee and spice estates in Salem and Yercaud, Deccan Finance and Dovel Pistons.

Subsequently, he founded Mehta Jewellery with his brother, Naresh, and his sons, Tushaar and Abhay Mehta.

Simply clad in a khadi dhoti, kurta and cap, Surendrabhai was a philanthropist and social activist. Social causes were very close to his heart and he passionately took up vegetarianism, ahimsa, organic farming and the study of Jainism.

Surendrabhai assisted and collaborated with the University of Madras to set up their Department of Jainology.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Chennai / by Special Correspondent / Chennai – February 15th, 2019

Historian’s contributions to T.N.’s social history hailed

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Leaders, Records, All

HistoryCF10feb2019

Speakers discuss A.R. Venkatachalapathy’s writings

Tracing the journey of historian and author A.R. Venkatachalapathy, speakers discussed his contributions to the social and cultural history of Tamil Nadu at a seminar on Saturday.

Organised jointly by Kalachuvadu, Kadavu, and The Hindu Lit for Life, the second day of ‘Viruvum Aazhamum’ seminar had sessions on Mr. Venkatachalapathy’s many avatars as historical researcher, translator, author, teacher and scholar.

Tamil writer Perumal Murugan said Mr. Venkatachalapathy had compiled and brought out 17 books, including ones on freedom fighter V.O. Chidambaram Pillai, poet Bharathiyar and Tamil writers Maraimalai Adigal and Pudhumaipithan, to fill gaps in historical accounts. He also threw light on lesser-known personalities like A.K. Chettiyar, a Tamil travelogue writer, and contributed to new perspectives in history, he added.

Style of writing

Speakers also discussed his style of writing and his contributions to the literary field through prefaces and Dalit writings. His prefaces were distinct and could be compiled and published as books, some of the speakers said. Describing his captivating style of writing as more typical of fiction, speakers suggested that he write a book tracing the history of Tamil proverbs.

Mr. Venkatachalapathy has published 41 books in English and Tamil and has authored about 200 articles in various newspapers and magazines.

He is currently a professor at the Madras Institute of Development Studies.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Chennai / by Special Correspondent / Chennai – February 09th, 2019

Kunal Sood: A techpreneur on celluloid

Amazing Feats, Business & Economy, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Leaders, Nri's / Pio's, Records, All, Science & Technologies, World Opinion

KunalSoodCF05feb2019

Chennai-born, US-based social entrepreneur and impact investor Kunal Sood talks about instigating further futurism via tech-vestments

Having spent the past 20 years of his life in the US, Kunal Sood, the Founder of X Fellows and Partner at X Impact Group, uses technology to drive change. A TED Resident and Ambassador to Singularity University NYC, the 41-year-old empowers entrepreneurs and innovators to turn their dreams into reality.

Kunal’s expertise ranges from psychology degrees to being a global health scientist to, of course, entrepreneurship. All this culminates in two important bodies: X Fellows and Novus Summit.

X Fellows, a privately-held community of entrepreneurs, is considered the inner-circle of innovators with companies.

Excerpts from an email interview:

Working with world leaders

My work with world leaders is primarily about building extraordinary citizens. The men and women shaping the future of our planet can find common ground around solving our global challenges.

KunalSood02CF05feb2019

People sometimes ask me ‘what do the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi and the President of Estonia, Kersti Kaljulaid have in common?’ I’ve been fortunate to play an important role in helping them unite around solving our world’s most urgent problems. Leaders that live their values in action help drive real-world results.

___________________________________

Hear it from the leaders
  • As the founder and chairman of Novus Summit launched at the United Nations General Assembly Hall in 2016, Kunal has put the world’s most accomplished and exponential leaders together.
  • Such figures include Peter Diamandis, Anousheh Ansari and Astro Teller on stage, alongside tech titans like Sunil Mittal, Reid Hoffman and Marc Benioff.
  • Expect stories of transformation with a global audience of delegates representing 193 countries, consisting of Heads of State, UN Ambassadors and Youth Leaders.
  • While 2019’s summit on July 20 – to celebrate man’s landing on the moon – is invite-only, Kunal shares there will be a line-up of astronauts, influencers, artists, policy-makers and storytellers present.

______________________________________

My hope is to make X Fellows and Novus Summit the pre-eminent gatherings at the UNGA, for exponential leaders to unite in action and work to achieve the 17 UN Global Goals.

The Indian influence

Growing up in Chennai was my toughest lesson in life early on, and given where I am today, the biggest blessing. My life, when I was around eight years old, shifted drastically, and I suffered both physically and mentally. While others excelled academically, I was left behind — often lost and without an understanding of why I was not able to keep pace.

My experience taught me how to relate to people with compassion and extraordinary resilience. India continually influences me because my late mentor Dr T J Cherian was a renowned cardiologist and served as a father figure in my life.

The birth of X Fellows

The idea of X Fellows was born out of the extraordinary courage of people like Dr Cherian. The programme was also born out of the need I see in the world to create a new league of extraordinary citizens. It is focused on the vision that we are all gifted, even when seemingly cursed.

Given the fast and accelerated pace at which exponential technology is outpacing our lives, I have learnt that the right community with sparking the right kinds of stories can bring about real impact. Together, they drive a sense of urgent action and offer a genuine opportunity to learn, connect and create something that is larger than us and truly extraordinary at its core.

We have entities such as Astro Teller of Google X, Anousheh Ansari of X Prize and Craig Hatkoff, founder of Tribeca Film Festival and Disruptors to name a few involved with X Fellows.

Tech talk

X Fellows is unique in technology because we believe in the power of mass customisation. Exponential technologies, be it Artificial Intelligence, 3D printing, or life-saving drones, can help us design individual solutions at an unparalleled scale. For example, a child who needed a prosthetic limb 20 years ago would face a lifetime of extremely expensive, poor-fitting choices. Today, tailor-made solutions are available at a fraction of the cost.

KunalSood03CF05feb2019

Sustainable solutions that are customised to the individual experience is where humanity is heading. By 2020, IDC analysts expect 3D printing global revenues to exceed $35 billion. It is human nature to want to create something that improves your life.

Human beings by nature are drawn to stories. Novus gives the youth a voice, as much as we give our elders a platform to share practical wisdom.

(As told to Akila Kannadasan)

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Sci-Tech> Internet / by Akila Kannadasan / February 04th, 2019

Major General Dr AVK Mohan: Armed with adventure

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Leaders, Records, All, Sports

At 59, the medical doctor qualified in hospital administration is fit as a fiddle.

At 59, Major General Dr AVK Mohan is a cyclist, mountaineer, runner and rider
At 59, Major General Dr AVK Mohan is a cyclist, mountaineer, runner and rider

Chennai  :

What would be a more apt venue for a tete-a-tete with a passionate endurance and adventure sports enthusiast than a bicycle store? We are at Pro-Bikers, OMR — the city’s go-to shop for professional cyclists — to meet Major General Dr AVK Mohan. It’s hard not to notice Mohan with his walrus moustache and crisp-casual attire. At 59, the medical doctor qualified in hospital administration is fit as a fiddle. “I have always been conscious about having a healthy lifestyle. I think everyone should focus on their fitness and well-being,” he says.

Amid a plethora of cycles and spares mounted on the walls, we find a quiet spot, and one of the most admired personalities in the city’s cycling and endurance sports circuit talks to us about his zest for life. The self-confessed ‘daredevil’ goes by the principle — ‘Never wait for opportunities to come your way. You create it, and seize the moment.’

Mohan has done it all — from going on mountaineering expeditions to Mount Satopanth with Italians in 1991, being the first in an Army brigade to climb a live volcano in Mount Nyeiragango in Congo in the early 2000s, to motorbiking to Siachen Glacier to commemorate the Army Medical Corps reunion, and biking to all the eight states on the Northeast including two China borders at Nathu La in Sikkim, Bumla in Arunachal Pradesh, Myanmar border at Moreh, Manipur and Bangladesh border at Agartala, Tripura.
His second-self is diverse, and he has a hard time picking a favourite. “From mountaineering, motorbiking, to cycling and running, they are all my favourites. Each one compliments and empowers the other. For instance, I cycle as cross-training for running,” he explains.

After traversing the country, Mohan moved to Chennai in December 2014 — a shift he never imagined would change his life. “I came to Chennai with inhibitions. The culture here was entirely different in comparison with my previous placements. I have served and commanded in Military hospitals in Jammu and Kashmir, Tezpur and so on,” he says.

But, what happened next was serendipitous. In June 2015, during one of his usual morning rides to OMR, he met Ashish Thadani and Kirtanya Krishnamurthy, who encouraged Mohan to join the Chennai Joy Riderz, a popular cycling group in the city. “My love for cycling tripled, and we went on several long distance rides. I met many like-minded people after my initiation into the group. I will treasure these memories forever,” says Mohan.

The tetra super randonneur has completed several long-distance rides including the 1,000km brevet event from Chennai to Vijayawada and back, a 900km tour of Nilgiris cycling — in Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu in 2015, and the 4,500 km Tour de Rotary K2K from Kashmir to Kanyakumari as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan in 2016.

Mohan’s day starts at 3 am, where he runs or cycles for a minimum of 70 km, before heading to work. Recently, despite an ankle fracture, Mohan went on a 15-km run on the Marina circuit. “It’s healing, but I don’t think the fracture will stop me from doing what I love,” he shares.
Mohan is an unofficial mentor and inspiration for budding cycling and fitness enthusiasts not only in Chennai but across the country. “I make sure I push and motivate others to take steps towards a better living.

To be a role model is a big responsibility, but I enjoy being one,” he shares.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Chennai / by Roshne Balasubramanian / Express News Service / February 04th, 2019

Freedom fighters get focus at spiritual fair

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Leaders, Records, All

Students usually find it too dry and tedious to learn about leaders from our State who contributed towards the freedom struggle.

FreedomFightersCF03feb2019

Chennai :

A sound and light show about freedom fighters, customised stamps by India Post and demonstrations of traditional Tamil musical instruments, were the key attractions at the second day of the Hindu Spiritual and Service Fair on Thursday.

School students who visited the fair were captivated by the sound and light show and infographs installed at various places throughout the fair about freedom fighters like Velu Nachiyar, Kattabomman, Theeran Chinnamalai, Vachinathan, etc.

“Students usually find it too dry and tedious to learn about leaders from our State who contributed towards the freedom struggle. The sound and light show about Jallianwala Bagh massacre and Andaman Jail were very illustrative and helped them grasp facts better,” said a teacher who accompanied students at the fair.
Members from the trust that organised the event, said over the six days, students from close to 1,400 schools, will participate in the various competitions being held.

Hundreds who flocked to the fair’s 10th edition were especially intrigued by traditional Tamil instruments displayed by the team from Kosainagaraan, musicians who play these instruments at Tamil weddings. Students, elders and even policemen enthusiastically tried their hand at instruments like the Kombu, Parai, Thudumbu, etc. “Western instruments have replaced most of the traditional ones. Also several parts of these instruments have gotten plastic substitutes hence making the originals disappear over time,” Shivakumar, head of the team.

R Rajalakshmi, vice chairperson of the managing team of the fair, said that students are ferried from their respective schools to the fair to learn most about spiritual beliefs and India’s freedom movement. “Nowadays students don’t have the time or interest to divulge into specifics about how India got its freedom. It is our responsibility to make it more interesting for them,” she said.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / by Express News Service / February 01st, 2019

Imbibing leadership values from the sidelines

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Leaders
D.R. Sivakumar
D.R. Sivakumar

There are those who are groomed for a leadership role. And then there are those who rise to a position of authority, quietly watching other leaders at work, from the sidelines and imbibing leadership values.

Now, D.R. Sivakumar, who was elected secretary of Chitlapakkam Muthulakshmi Nagar Welfare Association (CMWA) in December 2018, fits into the second category.

Sivakumar was a member of the Sarvamangala Nagar Residents’ Association until two years ago, which was when he shifted residence to Muthulakshmi Nagar.

“My inspiration to be a neighbourhood activist came from Sarvamangala Nagar RWA president M. Ravi, who has been leading the Association successfully for more than two decades and deals with a variety of issues. Just like him, I wanted to be an active member of the community,” says Sivakumar, who is 39 years old.

Being a resident of Chitlapakkam for close to a decade, Sivakumar was aware of the civic problems plaguing the locality. And he contested the CMWA elections successfully, last year.

Many years ago, at his home town, B.B. Kulam in Madurai, Sivakumar had been a member of a ‘maanavar ani’ (student group) and later the youth wing, which focused on neighbourhood issues. The group assisted government agencies in health campaigns such as polio vaccine administration and education awareness programmes. When he moved to Chennai 10 years ago for work and made Chitlapakkam his home, he wanted to be an active participant in his community.

“I am one among those who benefit or get affected by anything that happens within the community. So I can’t just sit and watch. My experience in the student and youth wing groups in my home town taught me that when people come together, a lot can be achieved,” he says.

Now, at Chitlapakkam Muthulakshmi Nagar, the first challenge staring at the newly-elected RWA team in December 2018, was the introduction of a better garbage disposal system.

“A longstanding problem here is improper garbage disposal and irregular collection. As a first step, we wanted to control dumping of garbage on the streets, so we put up signboards at three streets — Vishwamitrar Street, Muthulakshmi Street and Kasthurba Street — urging people to segregate the waste at home before handing it to the conservancy workers. The Association also joined hands with the Chitlapakkam Town Panchayat and an NGO to conduct an awareness programme,” he adds.

In less than two months, he claims, the volume of garbage has reduced by 60% and he wants to make Muthulakshmi Nagar a plastic-free zone in the future.

Sivakumar, who is employed with a luxury hotel chain, divides his time between work and Association activities. His next aim is to increase the number of members to at least 500 from the present 225.

“Though I am an office-bearer I can’t achieve much without help and encouragement from the other members. If more people join the Association and pursue the civic issues, the results can be achieved faster,” he says.

He also plans to revive the student and youth wings of the Association.

M. Ravi of Sarvamangala Nagar is quite happy that youngsters are coming forward to make their community a better place to live. His word of advice for Shivakumar is to stay consistent and persistent in his pursuit.

“Leading an RWA is a job that comes with a lot of responsibilities. One has to juggle family, career and activism all at the same time. There will be difficult and non-cooperative residents and officials to deal with. I hope Sivakumar will work with determination for the betterment of his neighbourhood,” he says.

Sivakumar can be reached at 95001 73020.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Chennai / by Sofia Juliet R / February 01st, 2019

Showcasing visionaries of Coimbatore

Business & Economy, Leaders, Records, All
Portraits of illustrious entrepreneurs of Coimbatore are on display along Race Course on Friday. | Photo Credit: M. Periasamy
Portraits of illustrious entrepreneurs of Coimbatore are on display along Race Course on Friday. | Photo Credit: M. Periasamy

TiE Coimbatore, under the theme Fostering Entrepreneurship, is organising “The Visionaries – Dreamers who built Coimbatore” as part of Coimbatore Vizha.

As part of the event, portraits of 20 great personalities of yesteryears, who had contributed immensely for the growth of Coimbatore and who reaffirmed the entrepreneurial spirit, will be on display along Race Course till Sunday.

The objective was to show the young minds the contributions of these dynamic entrepreneurs, said Ranjana Singhal and Hemalatha, secretary and president of TiE Coimbatore.

The portraits are that of L.G. Varadaraj, N. Mahalingam, SRP Ponnusamy, SP Narashimalu Naidu, Sir Robert Stanes, Swamikannu Vincent, R.S. Shamugam Chettiar, P.A. Raju Chettiar, Sri Ramulu Naidu, PSG Brothers, G.K. Devarajulu, GD Naidu, R.K. Venkatasamy Naidu, K. Damodarasamy Naidu, N.K. Mahadeva Iyer, A.P. Thiruvenkatasamy Mudaliar, P. Somasundara Chettiar, Textool Balasundaram, P.B. Krishnamurthy, and DPF Narayanasamy Naidu. The portraits will have a small note explaining their contributions.

Family members of a few personalities attended the inauguration event on Friday.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Coimbatore / by Special Correspondent / Coimbatore – January 12th, 2019